State representatives on the Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Interim Committee heard from local representatives and Rocky Mountain Power about efforts to provide municipalities with renewable energy options.

The meeting, held at the capitol building, addressed efforts to provide options for those communities interested in investing in renewable energy.

Local representatives and Rocky Mountain Power appealed to the committee to change regulations to allow the agreement to move forward. Park City Regional Environmental Sustainability Manager Luke Cartin explains.

Rocky Mountain Power Company and the municipal power company, Heber Light and Power, are evaluating the feasibility of burying new high power lines through the Heber Valley. The community has expressed opposition to the original plan which would run the 100 foot power poles through sensitive view corridors. Rocky Mountain Power would pay for the costs of installing above ground lines but the Heber Valley Community would have to pay for the difference in costs to bury them. Carolyn Murray has this:

Rocky Mountain Power has major wind and transmission expansion plans that include new farms and updating existing systems in Wyoming. Currently the state of Utah still gets most of its power from coal burning plants. Park City and Summit County have plans to be net zero over the next 15 years. Rocky Mountain Power continues to work on strategies to help the City and County reach their goals. Carolyn Murray has this:

The Summit County council meeting will open at the Kimball Junction Transit Center this afternoon before heading back to the Richins Building.

The council meeting starts at 2:30 pm in this unusual location. Summit County manager Tom Fisher says the meeting will kick off by hosting representatives from Rocky Mountain Power to highlight Park City and Summit County’s initiatives to have net-zero carbon footprints by 2022.

Rocky Mountain Power is seeking bids for new solar, wind and geothermal projects in Utah as part of an effort to increase renewable power generation on the PacifiCorp system. KPCW's Leslie Thatcher has more:

During Kelleen Potter’s successful campaign for Heber City mayor last November, she pledged to reform how city government deals with growth and how the Heber City Council communicates with constituents. Potter, who is also now Chairman of Heber Light & Power, conducts her first meeting with the company’s board today at 4pm. Carolyn Murray has this

Earlier this month, the Utah Court of Appeals set aside an order by the state’s Utility Facility Review Board in favor of Wasatch County’s statutory authority to protect ridgeline view corridors as outlined in the county code. Carolyn Murray has this:

A group of Wasatch County residents, calling themselves, VOLT, wants to put a stop to a project to install high voltage power lines through Wasatch County. The group claims the agreement was made without public input. Carolyn Murray has this: